Senate committee hears bill to ban smoking in R.I. casinos

Wednesday

Apr 1, 2015 at 11:15 PM

Twin River hotel, Lottery winner anonymity also go before panel

By Jennifer Bogdan Journal State House Bureau

PROVIDENCE — A push to ban smoking at the state's two gambling facilities drew support from health advocates Wednesday even as the bill's sponsor acknowledged that the bill may be unpopular because of a projected loss of state gambling revenue.

Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, D-South Kingstown, said she introduced the legislation after she was contacted by a Twin River employee who is concerned about the health effects. The bill, which was heard before the Senate Committee on Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs, proposes banning smoking at both Twin River and Newport Grand.

Sosnowski said she wanted to keep the employee's identity anonymous but read from an email she received from the individual that read, "Why is it legal for casino employees to be subjected to the perils of second-hand smoke, and why is it illegal for all others? How many Rhode Island casino employees will contract lung cancer and other forms of cancer because of their exposure to second-hand smoke in the workplace."

The last time the issue was taken up by lawmakers was in 2009. Estimates then suggested that the state could lose $36.5 million in revenue in fiscal 2010 based on revenue declines seen in Delaware after a smoking ban was instituted at its gambling facilities.

"I know it is a matter of revenue, but it's very unfortunate that anyone has to work in that atmosphere," Sosnowski said. "We had the wisdom to pass the legislation years ago to protect restaurant and other workers from second-hand smoke, and these folks have to endure it."

Karina Holyoak Wood, director of public policy for the American Lung Association in Rhode Island, said the organization supports the measure. She argued that a smoking ban is not a death sentence for the state's revenue stream, citing examples of other casinos across the country that have banned smoking. Massachusetts casinos will all be smoke-free.

"Anyone who wants to have a cigar ... they just go through a door and they're on a lovely patio with palm trees, and they've got those heaters and little canopies. Everybody wins," Wood said. "It's not that these facilities will lose any money."

No one from the gambling industry or the state Lottery spoke on the bill, which was held for further study. The bill would have to pass both the Senate and House to become law, but there is currently no House version of the bill.

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Twin River continued on its quest to remove a state restriction prohibiting a hotel from being built on the property. The committee voted to hold the bill that would remove the restriction.

Craig Eaton, Twin River’s senior vice president and legal counsel, told the committee that the roughly 200-room hotel it plans to build is an "important tool" the facility will need to compete with existing casinos in Connecticut and the coming Massachusetts casinos.

Approximately 70 percent of the rooms at the hotel are expected to be given out as comps to players, particularly table game players, Eaton said.

Committee Chairman Walter Felag Jr. said he expected the committee will bring the bill back within roughly a week for a vote. The full House has already approved the measure.

The committee also voted to hold a bill that would exempt the names of lottery winners to remain anonymous.

No one spoke on the proposal. Similar bills have gained attention in other states. In some cases lottery officials have argued that releasing winners' identities makes the public feel more certain that drawings are handled properly, but some winners complain that they've been hounded by scams.